The Seventh Adventure

[Scottenkainen]

Beppo, listening in to all this (and avoiding the primitive hobbit dressed in furs), was overwhelmed and struggled to catch on to everything's meaning ((even though I actually appreciate the Skrivir reference)).

During a break in the discussion he said, "Whew...maybe I do need some of these johnnycakes. If only I could get a stiff drink here too!"

[mushgnome]

Frederick gives an exasperated sigh, as though Beppo has touched on a sore spot. "I wish! My family has been on the 'wait list' for a liquor license for over a hundred years!! It's a racket, I tell you. But you don't want to get caught serving alcohol without a license (or serving underage) in this town! One black mark from the liquor board, they pull your health inspection, and then your food service license. Last to go is the certificate of occupancy, and then it's all over. Oh, just a minute: I have something for you. Be right back..."

(He fetches something from the kitchen.)

[mushgnome]

"Heeeeeere's JOHNNYCAKES!!!"

Johnnycakes are a regional New England delicacy, consisting of cornmeal batter cooked to perfection on the griddle. It should also be mentioned that the quality of the maple syrup here is top-notch! (Frederick also has bottles of the fake, sugary syrup, but he only puts that out for human customers.)

While Beppo is munching on the hot johnnycakes, Frederick calls the meeting to order. "I would like to advance a nominee for Adventure Club. His name is Beppo. The reason he has my vote, is that he was Tested today. He tangled with the Humans, and survived to tell the tale. That says to me, he is either a smooth talker, or a very fast runner. Either way, I think his natural curiosity will be an asset to our Club. All in favor? Opposed? [Assuming the vote carries...] Will someone please explain to Beppo what we are all about, and teach him our Rules?"

(Ursa gives a cute little "yay" from her seat by the fireplace, when Frederick calls the vote.)

[mgtremaine]

After several jonnycakes Kiplyn would stand up put his hands behind his back. "Well Mr. Beppo, you've probably done and gotten you self stuck with us but you best know the rules before anything else goes on. So here they are". Kiplyn cleares his throat and closes his eye to remember how it was told to him.

"The Rules of Adventure Club,
Rule number one: You do not talk about ADVENTURE CLUB.
Rule the second: You DO NOT talk about ADVENTURE CLUB!!
Rule three: ESPECIALLY not to the HUMANS!!!
Fourth rule: NO SPOILERS for new members of the Club.
Rule of five: No snooping around town or causing trouble with the humans.
Penultimate rule: Do not give in to Chaos!
Lucky number seven rule: If this is your first time at ADVENTURE CLUB, you MUST enter the dungeon!"

[Scottenkainen]

"Hmm. Mmm-MMM," Beppo mumbled while eating johnnycakes and listening to the rules.

He tried to keep his best poker face on during rule five. Surely the others didn't need to know about how he's been snooping around town and causing trouble with the humans...

But rule seven made him jump up and pound the table. "AHA! So there IS a dungeon under this town! I knew it! I could practically smell it!"

[mushgnome]

Frederick nods affirmative. "You were so close to the truth! Your only mistake was thinking a human could tell you the answer. Some of them are so dumb, they don't even know what a 'dungeon' or a 'cave' is. They think we are standing on the back of a giant turtle, and the turtle is standing on another turtle, and that turtle is standing on another turtle, and then..."

"IT'S TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN!" shouts Ursa from across the room, finishing her friend's joke. She seems to be slowly getting her groove back. Maybe the hustle and bustle of having other people around is making her feel more 'hobbet' again.

"But we're smarter than that, right guys? We Hobbets know the truth: it's turkeys, not turtles." Frederick lets out a loud belly-laugh. He is holding a spatula with a second stack of Johnnycakes for Beppo. He is just about to slide the hot cakes onto Beppo's plate when he mockingly pulls the spatula back just out of reach.

"Psych! Quick now: First Rule?"

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn smiles... "Well be ready in the morning, some of us need to get some rest. But welcome to the club. Maybe you like to have this also.". He passes Beppo a Silver Edged dagger in scabbard. "When I say be ready, I mean be ready for anything.". Kiplyn finishes off his meal and goes off to cleanup and get some sleep.

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn will keep the other Silver Edge Dagger he picked up and of course keep his trusty dagger which has been pretty damn effective thus far. So I'll add it to my equipment list.

[mushgnome]

Out of Character

Is there any equipment you'd like to buy for the next delve? As always, rations are replenished for free. Next on my administrative to-do list is an update of your new gold-piece totals and your inventories with the silver daggers etc.

I plan to continue my usual posting schedule (not necessarily every day, but most days) through the Xmas and New Year holidays. But if any of you want to take time off to celebrate and be with your families, that is okay and expected. Given the generally relaxed pace of the game, I doubt we are on track for a deadly encounter on Christmas Day or anything like that.

Here are a couple of house rules for 2022. The first one is codifying the way we've been playing for a while now, and the second one is something experimental for the Druids.

House Rule: Natural Healing
Hobbets compensate for the lack of the cleric class by being extremely fast healers. Under optimum circumstances (doing nothing but sleeping and feasting) a Hobbet Hero can regain up to 24 lost hit points per day. The following activities restore 1hp each (maximum 1hp/hour): an hour of restful sleep, a 'rest turn' and full day's ration in the dungeon environment, or a normal-sized meal on the surface.

House Rule: Spontaneous Casting
Druids may choose one spell that they can cast, as their 'signature spell.' Their signature spell does not occupy a 'slot' in their memory and can be cast in place of a memorized spell (of the same level or higher). Druids still cast the same total number of spells per day. (The signature spell is not a 'bonus spell.')

Example: I am a 1st level druid with 1 spell slot per day. My signature spell is Animal Friendship and I've memorized Speak With Animals. I encounter a wolf. Depending how I am feeling at that moment, I can cast the Speak or Friendship spell (but not both, because I only have 1 slot).

Druids may swap out their signature spells in between Adventures, for example when they level up and gain access to higher-level spells. The intention of this rule, is to encourage druids to be more creative in their spell memorization, knowing they have the option to fall back on their signature spell as a 'panic button.' This rule is also intended to give druids more style and personality: for example if you want to play a "healer" type druid, when you get to 3rd level, you can make Cure Light Wounds your signature spell. When you eventually get to 6th level and have 4/4/2 spell slots, you can spontaneously cast Cure Light Wounds up to 6 times per day! (burning all your 2nd and 3rd level slots, but not your 1st level slots)

Noh and Bilfur, are you clear on this new rule? What are your Signature Spells please? (It must be a 1st level spell.)

[mgtremaine]

At this point it seems like I have the best equipment I can source. So my gold totals are just pilling up. Maybe a Small Galley or Longboat is in order someday.